These videos address President Obama's ideas about education in America. Some ideas include paying good teachers more money than bad ones. Paying students for making good grades, and making the school year and school day longer to keep America competitive in the world market. Watch the videos, then respond to one or more of the prompts below in a 5 paragraph essay.
Prompt #1 President Obama stated that students in other countries go to school longer than students in America. He wants to make the school day longer and shorten the summer break. What do you think about this idea? In a well developed essay, explain your position stating facts about the pros and or cons to this idea.
Prompt #2 President Obama wants to pay good teachers more money and get rid of bad teachers all together. He blames teachers unions for protecting teachers who are not doing a good job. Who should decide which teachers are good and bad? Should student test scores be the way teachers are graded? Write a proposal for the President's education cabinet that spells out how teachers should be evaluated and what should happen before a teacher can be fired for not doing a good job.
Prompt #3 The education secretary started a program in Chicago public schools that pays students when they make good grades. So far he has seen improved attendance and better scores. Do you think paying students for their grades is a fair practice? What about students who have lower IQ's and can't make good grades even if they are trying their best? In a well developed paper, explain the factors that you think cause some students to make better grades than others and what we can do to help those who are failing. Consider factors like, teacher quality, family involvement, student attitude, special circumstances, etc.
Prompt #4 In the first video, President Obama reveals his 5 pronged plan to improve our nation's education system. Explain each prong detailing the pros and cons for each. Did he leave anything out that should be added? If so, explain what else you think needs to be done.
Prompt #5 You've watched the videos and now you have something important to say. Write a 5 paragraph essay based on what you have learned about the President's plan for education. Make sure that you take a side, and use a graphic organizer to get your thoughts on paper in a way that makes sense to everyone.
Step Two Organize your ideas
Use the program Inspiration to organize your thoughts and print out the outline form to be turned in with your essay. If you forgot how to use Inspiration, use the tutorial in the Help Section as a reminder.
Step Three Write your essay
Open a Word or Publisher document. Save the document using your class period, last name and essay. ex. 4holtessay Place it in the 'To Ms. Holt' folder in My Documents. Write your essay following the outline you created and printed earlier. Be sure to use spell and grammar check. Correct any words that are underlined in red or green. Be sure to use the task pane to check for words you can use in place of words you have already used several times.
Step Four Proof-read your essay
When you are completely finished writing, read through the entire essay slowly to check for errors that spell check missed. Like leaving a word out, typing not instead of note, etc. It is a good idea to have a classmate do this for you as well since you already know what the essay should say, you may overlook an obvious mistake.
Scoring
Essays will be scored using the 6-trait writing model and awarded scores of 6-0. For the gradebook, you will receive 100 points for a well developed outline. 100 points for following the outline exactly, and a final score worth 100 points for the final draft using the following scale.
6--100, 5-95, 4--90 3--80 2--70 1--60 0--did not turn in.
Read what LaDonna Hatfield has to say about comparing US student test scores to those of children in other countries.
Step One Pick your prompt
Prompt #1 President Obama stated that students in other countries go to school longer than students in America. He wants to make the school day longer and shorten the summer break. What do you think about this idea? In a well developed essay, explain your position stating facts about the pros and or cons to this idea.Prompt #2 President Obama wants to pay good teachers more money and get rid of bad teachers all together. He blames teachers unions for protecting teachers who are not doing a good job. Who should decide which teachers are good and bad? Should student test scores be the way teachers are graded? Write a proposal for the President's education cabinet that spells out how teachers should be evaluated and what should happen before a teacher can be fired for not doing a good job.
Prompt #3 The education secretary started a program in Chicago public schools that pays students when they make good grades. So far he has seen improved attendance and better scores. Do you think paying students for their grades is a fair practice? What about students who have lower IQ's and can't make good grades even if they are trying their best? In a well developed paper, explain the factors that you think cause some students to make better grades than others and what we can do to help those who are failing. Consider factors like, teacher quality, family involvement, student attitude, special circumstances, etc.
Prompt #4 In the first video, President Obama reveals his 5 pronged plan to improve our nation's education system. Explain each prong detailing the pros and cons for each. Did he leave anything out that should be added? If so, explain what else you think needs to be done.
Prompt #5 You've watched the videos and now you have something important to say. Write a 5 paragraph essay based on what you have learned about the President's plan for education. Make sure that you take a side, and use a graphic organizer to get your thoughts on paper in a way that makes sense to everyone.
Step Two Organize your ideas
Use the program Inspiration to organize your thoughts and print out the outline form to be turned in with your essay. If you forgot how to use Inspiration, use the tutorial in the Help Section as a reminder.Step Three Write your essay
Open a Word or Publisher document. Save the document using your class period, last name and essay. ex. 4holtessay Place it in the 'To Ms. Holt' folder in My Documents. Write your essay following the outline you created and printed earlier. Be sure to use spell and grammar check. Correct any words that are underlined in red or green. Be sure to use the task pane to check for words you can use in place of words you have already used several times.Step Four Proof-read your essay
When you are completely finished writing, read through the entire essay slowly to check for errors that spell check missed. Like leaving a word out, typing not instead of note, etc. It is a good idea to have a classmate do this for you as well since you already know what the essay should say, you may overlook an obvious mistake.Scoring
Essays will be scored using the 6-trait writing model and awarded scores of 6-0. For the gradebook, you will receive 100 points for a well developed outline. 100 points for following the outline exactly, and a final score worth 100 points for the final draft using the following scale.6--100, 5-95, 4--90 3--80 2--70 1--60 0--did not turn in.